BANNU: Talks between the Bakakhel tribe and the local administration remained successful as the former agreed to accept all conditions of the government for restoring durable peace and establishing its writ in the tribal area.

Elders of sub-clans of the Bakakhel tribe and officials of the political administration of Frontier Region of Bannu and the local administration of Bannu held a jirga at the commissioner’s house in Bannu on Tuesday.

DCO Kamran Zeb, DPO Iqbal Marwat and assistant political agent Mawaz Khan also attended the jirga.

The administration had put forward a few conditions to the tribal elders, which the local elders accepted and extended all-out cooperation to security forces and administration officials for conducting operation the region. 

The tribal elders agreed to allow the government to establish checkposts in the Bakakhel area to maintain peace and keep vigil on the movement of militants. 

They also assured the administration that tribesmen would make every effort to ensure peace and harmony in the region. 

The administration in return assured the Bakahkel elders that no military operation would be launched in the tribal belt. The tribal elders also presented their reservations to the local administration.

A 12-member committee of the Bakakhel tribe was also set up, which would hold talks with the government. The Bakakhel elders also sought government’s waiver regarding the Janikhel tribe and stressed on dialogue to sort out issues.

Meanwhile, security forces continued operation against extremists in the Janikhel area of FR Bannu, pounding suspected militants’ hideouts with heavy artillery in Sentanga, Wali Noor, Khujdarkhel and other areas. Ten militants were reportedly killed in the shelling. 

The security forces also defused six homemade bombs planted near the Kurram bride on the Kohat road on Monday. 

Militants, meanwhile, fired six missiles on the Bannu city and the Norar area. One of the missiles landed in the Haweed post area, another in the city police area and the remaining four in the Miryan police area. However, the missiles caused no damages.